Er:YAG laser combined with botulinum toxin A for patients with local syringomas: A preliminary report

Abstract

Syringoma is a common but refractory benign skin tumor. Conventional treatment, such as ultra-pulsed carbon dioxide (CO2) laser or cryotherapy, often requires multiple treatment and can easily cause prolonged erythema, scarring, or depression, which are frustrating, so there is an urgent need to seek a safer and more effective method. In this article, we tried to demonstrate the Er:YAG laser combined with botulinum toxin A (BTXA) as a safer and more efficacious method for treating syringomas. Materials and methods: Twenty-one patients with local syringomas were treated with erbium laser ablation. Immediately after laser treatment, approximately 10 units of BTXA were sprayed on the wound for 10 min. Result: In total, 21 patients underwent 1.62 ± 0.74 treatments; their Periorbital Syringoma Severity Index (PSSI) score declined from 4.19 (before treatment) to 1.10 (after treatment), and the number of treatments was significantly lower than those reported in previous literature using the erbium laser alone. Conclusion: The Er:YAG laser combined with botulinum toxin A for the treatment of syringoma is a safer and more effective treatment than traditional treatment methods.